Automatic network topology identification by nodes in the network
First Claim
1. A method performed by a communications network, said network comprising interconnected nodes, said method comprising:
- monitoring by a first one of said interconnected nodes a message from a neighboring node identifying attributes of said neighboring node, wherein each interconnected node is associated with a first address and a second address, wherein the second address has fewer bits than the first address, and wherein network data is transmitted within the interconnected nodes using the second addresses;
detecting a change in said message from a previous message so as to identify a change in attributes of said neighboring node, corresponding to a change in said network; and
communicating to other nodes in said network by said first node said change in said network, wherein said change in said network is communicated using the first addresses rather than using the second addresses.
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Abstract
An automatic network topology identification technique is described herein. Each node in the network periodically or constantly transmits its unique address to its neighboring node. Once a node receives a different message from its neighbor, the node identifies a topology change in the network. In one embodiment, a current topology is associated with a session number. When a change in the topology is detected, the detecting node increments the session number and broadcasts the change in topology. The other nodes, detecting the changed session number, now know that there has been a change in the network. In response, the nodes in the network modify routing tables and other information stored at the node related to the topology. In one embodiment, the technique is used to reassign shortened addresses to each device on the network to support a dual-addressing mode of the network. The dual addressing mode substitutes reduced-length addresses (referred to as short addresses) for standard addresses (referred to as long addresses) for traffic whose source or destination is internal to a given virtual network topology. The required length of short addresses used for a given virtual topology is dependent on the number of devices reachable within the topology.
52 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method performed by a communications network, said network comprising interconnected nodes, said method comprising:
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monitoring by a first one of said interconnected nodes a message from a neighboring node identifying attributes of said neighboring node, wherein each interconnected node is associated with a first address and a second address, wherein the second address has fewer bits than the first address, and wherein network data is transmitted within the interconnected nodes using the second addresses; detecting a change in said message from a previous message so as to identify a change in attributes of said neighboring node, corresponding to a change in said network; and communicating to other nodes in said network by said first node said change in said network, wherein said change in said network is communicated using the first addresses rather than using the second addresses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A routing switch for use in a communications network, the network comprising routing switches interconnected by communication links, the routing switch comprising:
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one or more transceivers connected to associated links to one or more other routing switches in neighboring nodes; a switch fabric for routing information to and from the one or more transceivers; and one or more processors, the one or more processors for controlling the routing switch to; monitor a message from a neighboring node identifying attributes of the neighboring node, wherein each interconnected node is associated with a first address and a second address, wherein the second address has fewer bits than the first address, and wherein network data is transmitted within the interconnected nodes using the second addresses; detect a change in the message from a previous message so as to identify a change in attributes of the neighboring node, corresponding to a change in the network; and communicate to other nodes in the network by said first node the change in the network, wherein the change in the network is communicated using the first addresses rather than using the second addresses. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification